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Twenty-five year old Trinidad and Tobago pacer Anderson Phillip is in line for his West Indies debut after being included in the 13-man squad to face England in the first game of the three-match Apex Test series beginning on 8 March.
Phillip leads all bowlers in the 2022 West Indies Championship at present with 12 wickets in two matches for the T&T Red Force at an average of 14.25 per wicket, with best figures of 5/82 against the Jamaica Scorpions.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Thus far, Phillip’s West Indies career comprises a solitary One-day International against Sri Lanka on 13 March 2021. Lead Cricket West Indies (CWI) selector Dr Desmond Haynes said he could not overlook the fast bowler’s current form.
“Anderson Phillip bowled extremely well and was very impressive in the first two rounds of the West Indies Championship,” Haynes told CWI Media, “and we decided to give him an opportunity in the Test squad to face England.
“He has been around the squad before in white ball cricket so he has some experience at the international level.”
There was a West Indies recall for 28-year-old Jamaica Scorpions opener John Campbell, who hit 213 runs at an average of 53.25—including 127 against Barbados Pride.
However, there was no place for Barbadian allrounder Roston Chase or Trinidad and Tobago opener Jeremy Solozano. Solozano was selected in the CWI President’s XI team to face England from 1 March while Chase was excluded from both teams.
(Copyright AP Photo/ Eranga Jayawardena)
Haynes suggested that the West Indies Test team has the talent to push England, who have not won a Test series in the Caribbean since 2003.
“I expect us to be very competitive against England,” said Haynes. “This should be a very exciting series, with a lot of players who are out to make their mark.
“We have a squad that has some experienced players, as well as some exciting young players and we expect them to acquit themselves well and do the job.”
West Indies Test 13: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales.
CWI President’s XI 12: Shane Dowrich (captain), Raymon Reifer (vice-captain), Colin Archibald, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Bryan Charles, Shermon Lewis, Preston McSween, Shayne Moseley, Jeremy Solozano, Shamar Springer, Devon Thomas.
(Copyright AFP)
Apex Test Series Schedule
(10am local time/ 9am Jamaica Time)
1-4 March: CWI President’s XI v England at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua
8-12 March: 1st Apex Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
16-20 March: 2nd Apex Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados
24-28 March: 3rd Apex Test at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada
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